Russula cystidiosa is an oak-loving red russula from eastern North America, featuring a bright red cap, a white stem, mild taste, and a creamy to yellowish spore print. Since several other species share these features, microscopic analysis is probably necessary for certain identification: Russula cystidiosa features abundant, clavate pileocystidia and spores with well developed warts.

Description:

Ecology: Mycorrhizal with oaks and perhaps with other hardwoods; growing alone, scattered, or gregariously; summer and fall; widely distributed in eastern North America from Florida to Illinois and New Jersey.

Cap: 3.5-11 cm; convex when young, becoming broadly convex to flat, sometimes with a shallow depression; dry, or sticky when wet; very finely velvety; bright red to deep pinkish red; the margin usually slightly lined at maturity; the skin peeling fairly easily, often halfway to the center or more.

Gills: Attached to the stem or running slightly down it; close or nearly distant; white when young but creamy or pale yellowish with maturity.